View synonyms for soapwort

soapwort

[ sohp-wurt, -wawrt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a plant, Saponaria officinalis, of the pink family, whose leaves are used for cleansing.

soapwort

/ ˈsəʊpˌwɜːt /

a Eurasian caryophyllaceous plant, Saponaria officinalis, having rounded clusters of fragrant pink or white flowers and leaves that were formerly used as a soap substitute Also calledbouncing Bet

First recorded in 1540–50; soap + wort ²

Polypetalous corolla of Soapwort, of five petals with long claws or stalk-like bases.

Unguiculate petals are universal and strongly marked in the Pink tribe, as in Soapwort (Fig. 248).

Other sapotoxins are obtained from the roots of soapwort and from several species of Gypsophila.

The Soapwort comes to us from Europe, where in some localities it is a common wild flower.

The plant commonly called Soapwort or Bouncing Bet also bears other popular names, many of which are purely local.

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